Samba wins four awards from Global Finance in 2011 for best internet banking services

September 2011
Global Finance, the specialised international banking and finance magazine, has presented four awards to Samba Financial Group in appreciation of its leading role in internet banking services across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Middle East in 2011.

The awards were for Best Consumer Bank Site in the Middle East and Africa, Best Information Security Initiatives in the Middle East and Africa, Best Integrated Corporate Bank Site in the Middle East and Africa and Best Consumer Internet Bank in Saudi Arabia.

Winners were chosen from entries evaluated by the magazine and the results are to be declared in the upcoming September edition. The evaluation includes a list of the best banks in Middle East and African markets. The evaluation, supervised by a team of senior analysts, editors and experts in Internet technology and the banking industry, was based on the strength of the strategy to attract and service online customers, success in getting clients to use web offerings, growth of online customers, breadth of product offerings, evidence of tangible benefits gained from Internet initiatives, and web site design and functionality.

Eisa Al Eisa, Chairman of Samba Financial Group said: "The awards given to the Group confirms our leading role with respect to internet banking services for consumers and corporates. Our continuous efforts to expand our scope of internet banking services were also acknowledged by this award .This achievement comes as Samba continues to strengthen its local and regional role in compliance with the highest international standards".

"Samba will continue to innovate and further improve the level of technological services and products offered to consumers and corporates. Samba adopts a clear strategy seeking to maintain its eminent reputation and the confidence and trust of our customers". Al Eisa added.

Joseph Giarraputo, Publisher of Global Finance said, "In less than a decade, the internet has transformed the way many consumers and most businesses bank. The continuing improvements in internet offerings, represented by this year's entries, show that more significant internet banking developments are still ahead of us."

It is worth noting that Global Finance selected Samba earlier this year as the best bank in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2011, for the sixth year in a row, after evaluating the performance of banks in emerging markets in the Middle East. This is in addition to the thirty awards given to Samba in 2010 and 2011, from the world's highest research bodies including "Global Finance", " EMEA Finance", "The Banker" and "Asian Banker".